b. 31/10/1913 Storrs, Utah. d. 15/11/1996 Kansas City, Missouri.
DATE OF MOH ACTION: 07-08/05/1942 Coral Sea, South Pacific.
William E Hall MOH
Hall graduated from the University of Redlands and then joined the Navy from his birth state of Utah in May 1938. He completed flight training as a naval aviator in September 1939 and by May 7, 1942 was a Lieutenant, Junior Grade, serving as a scout plane pilot with Lexington’s Scouting Squadron 2 (flying the SBD Dauntless). On that day, over the Coral Sea, Hall participated in the attack on the Japanese carrier Shoho, gaining a share in its destruction. The next day, while flying anti-torpedo plane patrol in defense of his carrier, he attacked a section of Japanese torpedo bombers, setting afire the lead plane (commanded by Lieutenant Norio Yano) and forcing the wingmen to switch targets. Before he could find another target (Yano was finished by AA shortly afterwards), Hall found himself jumped by several Zeros. Although his craft was damaged and he was seriously wounded in the ensuing dogfight, he claimed two shot down (though none were lost) and managed to land safely. For these actions, he was awarded the Medal of Honor. He was presented with his Medal on November 22, 1942 in San Diego, California from Vice Admiral Ephraim P. Holmes.
While in the hospital he met his wife, a navy nurse, and they married in September 1942. Hall reached the rank of lieutenant commander before leaving the Navy in 1946. He died at age 83 and was buried in Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.
MOH CITATION:
For extreme courage and conspicuous heroism in combat above and beyond the call of duty as pilot of a scouting plane in action against enemy Japanese forces in the Coral Sea on 7 and 8 May 1942. In a resolute and determined attack on 7 May, Lt. (j.g.) Hall dived his plane at an enemy Japanese aircraft carrier, contributing materially to the destruction of that vessel. On 8 May, facing heavy and fierce fighter opposition, he again displayed extraordinary skill as an airman and the aggressive spirit of a fighter in repeated and effectively executed counterattacks against a superior number of enemy planes in which three enemy aircraft were destroyed. Though seriously wounded in this engagement, Lt. (j.g.) Hall, maintaining the fearless and indomitable tactics pursued throughout these actions, succeeded in landing his plane safely.
BURIAL LOCATION: FORT LEAVENWORTH NATIONAL CEMETERY, FORT LEAVENWORTH, KANSAS.
SECTION I, GRAVE 286.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: BELIEVED TO BE FAMILY.
